The Sunday herald., 1887-01-30
BIG BLAZE AT NAVY YARD.
The Costly Ordinance shop Threaten ed
with DcstruCttOn-EXcell Work OF
Fire Departsnenl.

The large ordnance shop in the Navy Yard, at the
corner OF Sumner and Dent streets, was discovered
TO he on fire yesterday afternoon few minutes after
O'Clock. The nre-aarm In the yard was sounded,
and the steam engine and four hose carriages
pulled ny nann, were soon on the spot and at work
mick, Ordnance offcer Of the Yard. that the mex
perence OF the yards fremen would result disas-
lrousy to me property, and he ordered city alarm
TO he sounded from box 54, which was done at 4:2I.
Upon the arrival of Assistant Chief Maddox, gen.
era alarm was sounded, and in n remarkably short
time nearly the whole of the District Depart-
ment was on the ground. The ordnance shop is a
narrow brick building, some ninety or q hundred
feet long and has sloplng roof. When the District
remen arrived they found the flames bursting forth
in at least dozen places along the roof, with
and then sharp explosion similar to small shell.
Nothing ddun'ei, Chief Paris ordered his men into
tue loft, and by some excellent work they soon had
storing plans and models of vessels In the centre
OF The building, where the fire seemed nercest,
were stored the drawings for the contemplated new
cruisers like the Chicago and those Of the Dolphin
and Atlanta. Although the drawers wherein were
stored the designs were charred. the papers
jured. The roof of the building is a WRECK.
Every timber Is a mass of charcoal. and the won
der Is that the whole did not fall. The destruction
OF models and the damage IN tue lower floor, used
The Ordnance shop and containing several hundred
thousand dollars worth OF machinery, will foot mp
total loss difficult fully TO estimate.
How the 1re originated Is mystery
and almost every Indication points to lncen
time with men at work, and they were igno-
rant that overhead lre raging until one OF the
marines, detailed as a watchman, rushed In and no.
titled them The marine states that when he first
saw tue fire itiwas coming from many portions OF
the building.
When Chief Paris arrived he found the sailors
and workmen OF the yard standing outside and
throwing water in at the windows. He ordered
his Tlen as well az the others. at once inside.
one Of the sailors told him that the officers in
charge would not allow them TO go on the roof
or in the loft, as II would endanger their lives
The Dre engine in the yard, IL is said, was out of
repair and leaked badly while at work.
Commander Mccormick, with Chief Paris AMI
representative OF THE HERALD, went through the
burned loft after the fire out and made a per-
soma! inspection. Commander Mccormick stated
that about O'Clock he made tour through the
shops and found everything as usual. He returned
andhad hardly been there three minutes when he was
startled by the cry OF fire. He hurried out and
| astonished 10 see names issuing from over dozen
places IN the roof. How II originated, or when, he
could not say. The saving of the drawings of the
new cruisers from the fire very gratifying.
| Commander Mccormick added ~ want 10 say a
word about your nremen. have heard of them re-
peatedy, but never saw them at work before. They
| are the best have known In my experience, and
they fight fire with the bravery of blueackets in
| hand-io-hand battle. Their splendid work at this
0re alone has savedihe Government many thousand,
I OF dOars.n
The fire will probably result In board of invest
CATION. II was strongly hinted among the men II
The yard that the recent order OF Secretary Whne,
| detailing marines 10 act as watchmen mad some
thing 10 do with II.